February was a slow month for marquee auctions. Most of the top lots came from the India-based Pundole’s auction house, where the collection of Japanese mogul Masanori Fukuoka hit the block. Most of these lots fell comfortably within the estimate range.
The biggest surprise for the month was that there were no NFTs in sight. Specifically, 104 of them went missing, after the consignor of a single-lot comprised of 104 CryptoPunks yanked the rug out from under Sotheby’s and withdrew the lot… just as the sale was about to take place on February 23. The house had breathlessly hyped up its “first dedicated live evening auction for NFTs” with a special name (“Punk It!”) and a live panel of crypto-experts. In the end, the $20 to $30 million event just sort of disappeared.
Perennial favorite Yayoi Kusama’s work appears twice on this list—her Statue Obliterated netted almost $4 million in Seoul, and a work on paper from 1988 that carried an estimate of €20,000 to €30,000 ($22,299 to $33,449) went bonkers, bringing in a staggering €680,000 ($758,167).
Another highlight of this list is Robert Colescott’s 1989 painting White Boy, which was originally shown at the United States pavilion in Venice, where Colescott became the first Black artist to represent the country at the so-called “art-world Olympics.”
Usually, the prices we list here include premiums, but in this instance the majority of the top lots only disclosed hammer prices. In a few instances where the houses did not reply to requests for the hammer prices, premiums are noted.
Below, see the most expensive lots that sold at auction in February 2022.
1. Vasudeo S. Gaitonde, Untitled (1969)
Vasudeo S. Gaitonde, Untitled (1969). Courtesy of Pundole’s.
Estimate: 300 million INR to 500 million INR ($3.96 million to $6.61 million)
Final Price: 420 million INR ($5.55 million)
Where and When: Pundole’s, India, February 24, 2022
2. Tyeb Mehta, Mahishasura (1995)
Tyeb Mehta, Mahishasura (1995). Courtesy of Pundole’s.
Estimate: 150 million INR to 250 million INR ($1.98 million to $3.04 million)
Final Price: 320 million INR ($4.23 million)
Where and When: Pundole’s, India, February 24, 2022
3. Yayoi Kusama, Statue of Venus Obliterated by Infinity Nets (1998)
Yayoi Kusama, Statue of Venus Obliterated by Infinity Nets (1998). Courtesy of Seoul Auction.
Estimate: Undisclosed
Final Price: 4,400,000,000 KRW ($3.69 million)
Where and When: Seoul Auction, South Korea, February 22, 2022
4. Jagdish Swaminathan, The Altar (1998)
Jagdish Swaminathan, The Altar (1998). Courtesy of Pundole’s.
Estimate: 60 million INR to 80 million INR ($792,953 to $1.06 million)
Final Price: 220 million INR ($3.35 million)
Where and When: Pundole’s, India, February 24, 2022
5. Kazuo Shiraga, Purple (ca. 1987-1988)
Kazuo Shiraga, Purple (ca. 1987-1988). Courtesy of Nagel Auctions.
Estimate: €300,000 to €500,000 ($334,485 to $557,475)
Final Price: €1.14 million ($1.27 million)
Where and When: Nagel Auktionen, Germany, February 24, 2022
6. Arpita Singh, My Lily Pond (2009)
Arpita Singh, My Lily Pond (2009). Courtesy of Pundole’s.
Estimate: 30 million INR to 50 million INR ($396,476 to $660,794)
Final Price: 90 million INR ($1.19 million)
Where and When: Pundole’s, India, February 24, 2022
7. Tyeb Mehta, Bull (1985)
Tyeb Mehta, Bull (1985). Courtesy of Pundole’s.
Estimate: 20 million INR to 30 million INR ($264,317 to $396,476)
Final Price: 90 million INR ($1.19 million)
Where and When: Pundole’s, India, February 24, 2022
8. Yoshitomo Nara, DRUMMING WITH BONES (2000)
Yoshitomo Nara, DRUMMING WITH BONES (2000). Courtesy of iART CO.,LTD
Estimate: 20 million JPY to 40 million JPY ($173,848 to $347,697)
Final Price: 115 million JPY ($999,629)
Where and When: iART CO.,LTD, Japan, February 19, 2022
9. John Gibson RA, Maharajah Duleep Singh, last ruler of the Punjab (1859-60)
John Gibson RA, Maharajah Duleep Singh, last ruler of the Punjab (1859-60). Courtesy of Bonhams.
Estimate: £200,000 to £300,00 ($270,087 to $405,131)
Final Price: £802,750 ($857,321)
Where and When: Bonhams London, February 1, 2022
10. Xu Beihong, Axis for Peace and Auspiciousness (1943)
Xu Beihong, Axis for Peace and Auspiciousness (1943). Courtesy of Beijing Poly International Auction.
Estimate: 5.5 million CNY to 6.5 million CNY ($864,535 to $1.02 million)
Final Price: 6325000 CNY ($994,215) [premium-inclusive]
Where and When: Poly International Auction Co., Ltd., Beijing, February 3, 2022
11. Chopard (Co.) Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Chopard’s Sapphire and Diamond Ring. Courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Estimate: 4.8 million HKD to 6.8 million HKD ($615,345 to $871,739)
Final Price: 7.68 million HKD ($984,168) [premium-inclusive]
Where and When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, February 18, 2022
12. Robert Colescott, White Boy (1989)
Robert Colescott, White Boy (1989). Courtesy of Bonhams.
Estimate: $800,000 to $1.2 million
Final Price: $750,000
Where and When: Bonhams Los Angeles, February 18, 2022
13. Yayoi Kusama, Fire (1988)
Yayoi Kusama, Fire (1988). Courtesy of Nagel Auction.
Estimate: €20,000 to €30,000 ($22,299 to $33,449)
Final Price: €680,000 ($758,167)
Where and When: Nagel Auction, Germany, February 24, 2022
14. Jin Nong, An album of regular official script (1739)
Jin Nong, An album of regular official script (1739). Courtesy of Poly International Auction Co., Ltd.
Estimate: 1.5 million CNY to 2 million CNY ($$235,782 to $314,376)
Final Price: 5.87 million CNY ($921,909) [premium-inclusive]
Where and When: Poly International Auction Co., Ltd., Beijing, February 3, 2022
15. Mr., Harajuku Kiss (2015)
Mr., Harajuku Kiss (2015). Courtesy of Seoul Auction.
Estimate: 680 million KRW to 800 million KRW ($570,343 to $670,992)
Final Price: 820000000 KRW ($687,767)
Where and When: Seoul Auction, South Korea, February 22, 2022